accompany her, but Meg thought that it would be better if Aunt Maria did not set eyes on her. Having contrived to convey to the formidable lady, who, mercifully, disapproved so strongly of frivolity that she rarely went into society, the impression that Freddy’s betrothed was a very sober girl, of strict upbringing and rigid principles, it would clearly be an act of madness to present to her a dashing young female, ravishingly attired in a morning dress of twilled French silk, and with her hair cut and curled in the very latest mode. “Besides, Aunt Maria would be bound to say you were fast, because she thinks all pretty females must be.”
“I?” gasped Kitty. “Pretty?”
“Now, Kitty, don’t be missish! You know you are! Papa was saying only the other day that you have a great deal of countenance. Of course, the thing that particularly pleases Mama is that you have such excellent taste. She sets the greatest store by that, you know, and says she shall be very glad to take you about with her as soon as she is able, because you will do us all such credit! Shall you be going out? If you are in Bond Street, I wish you will take back The Pastor’s Fireside to Hookham’s—unless you mean to read it yourself, but I do not at all recommend it!”
She then departed, leaving her guest to peruse the morning papers before sallying forth on her errand. She had just put on her hat and pelisse, and. was descending the stairs to the hall when Lord Dolphinton, having tugged violently at the bell and banged the knocker several times for good measure, was admitted into the house.
“Miss Charing!” uttered his lordship, in agitated accents.
“I fancy, my lord, that Miss has but this instant stepped out, but I will enquire,” bowed Skelton.
“Wait for her!” said Dolphinton, thrusting his hat and cane upon the slightly startled butler. “Must see her! Important!”
“Good gracious, Dolph, whatever is the matter?” exclaimed Kitty, hurrying down the stairs. Dolphinton clutched her hand, and said in a gasp: “Must see you!”
“Yes, yes, of course!” said Kitty. “Come into the breakfast-parlour, and tell me all about it!”
He allowed himself to be led into this apartment; but when she had shut the door, and pushed him gently into a chair by the fire, he seemed to find the greatest difficulty in enunciating a word. He sat opening and shutting his mouth for some moments, staring at her with such an expression of misery on his face that she became alarmed, and begged him to tell her if anything terrible had happened to Miss Plymstock.
He swallowed convulsively. “Not Hannah. Me! Don’t know what to do. Obliged to offer for you again!”
She could not help laughing. “Now, Dolph, don’t be absurd! I collect that your Mama has been teasing you?” He nodded. “Says I must sweep you off your feet. I don’t want to. Don’t want to sweep anybody off her feet. Not even Hannah. Don’t know how. Besides, Freddy wouldn’t like it. Might call me out. Not going to fight a duel with Freddy! Won’t do it! I like Freddy! Like him better than Hugh, or—”
“Yes, yes, you like him better than any of your cousins!” said Kitty. “He won’t call you out, I promise you!”
“Mama says he won’t, but I don’t know. Mama says you won’t marry him. Says she knew it all along. Says if I do the thing right you’ll marry me. Says—”
“She says that I shall like to be a Countess, and you have only to tell me of all the advantages which would be mine, if I married you, for me to accept your offer!” interrupted Kitty. “But this is all nonsense, Dolph, and there is nothing to put you in this taking! You may tell your Mama that you did her bidding, and I refused to listen to you.”
He shook his head. “Don’t understand. Haven’t thought! I have, People may say I can’t think, but I can. Often think for hours and hours. Thought about this. See it all. You refuse me—can’t come here any more—shan’t see Hannah— put a period to my existence! Only thing is, able to swim! shouldn’t like to put a pistol to my head. At least,” he added, “don’t think I should. Got peppered in the leg by a careless fellow once. Didn’t like it above half.”
Considerably frightened, Kitty knelt beside his chair, and took his hand, and patted it. “No, no, Dolph! Pray do not talk in that wild fashion! I do understand!—I understand perfectly! It is all my fault for not having thought of a way to help you all this time! But I will get you out of this fix!”
“You will?” said his lordship anxiously.
“I will!” she declared. “Oh, dear, it seems as though everything has come upon me at the same time! First, Camille, and then Fish, and now—” She broke off, as an idea occurred to her, and suddenly raised her eyes to his lordship’s face, staring fixedly at him.
“You think you can get me out of it?” he said, a glimmer of hope in his eye.
“Wait!” said Kitty. She sat back on her heels, her brows knitted, and her gaze intent upon the wall.
His lordship waited obediently, watching her with very much the air of an expectant dog. All at once, her face broke into smiles, and she turned to him, seizing both his hands, and saying impulsively: “I have it! How can I have been such a goose as not to have thought of it before? My poor, dear Fish! It is all her doing! You shall marry Miss Plym—
stock, and I can contrive it so that Freddy shall incur not the smallest blame for it! The only thing is—Dolph, should you object to deceiving your Mama?”
“You think I could do that?” he asked intently.
“You could, if I showed you how it may be done, and told you several times what you must say to her,”
“Yes, I could,” agreed his lordship, pleased to find his powers recognized, “Like to do it!”
“To be sure you would! Now, listen carefully, Dolph! I find myself obliged to go to Arnside, and you shall take me! You will tell your Mama that you did just as she bade you, and I said that I was willing to marry you, if Uncle Matthew would consent to it, only I must see him face to face, to explain the matter to him. Have you understood that, Dolph? Very well! You will tell her that you mean to take me to Arnside tomorrow—Oh, Dolph, will she let you take me in your own carriage? I believe the post charges are shockingly dear, and I daresay you would find it as hard to lay your hand upon a large sum of money as I should!”
“Take you in my own carriage,” he repeated, showing his comprehension, and keeping his eyes fixed on her face in a painful effort of concentration.
“Yes, I think she will raise no demur,” decided Kitty. “And there can be no fear of her coming with us, because Uncle Matthew has sworn he will not allow her to enter his house again, and she must know he meant it, because the last time she came he made Stobhill bolt all the doors, and shouted to her out of the window of his dressing-room that she was to go away. Poor Fish had one of her worst spasms, and I must own that it was shockingly uncivil of Uncle Matthew! Well, then, Dolph, you shall bring your carriage here tomorrow morning, quite early, remember, because I particularly wish to be gone out of town before noon! And I will arrange for Hannah to be here, as though she came with me to bear me company, you know, and we will drive away, all three of us! And we shall not go to Arnside, but to Garsfield Rectory!”
“Go to Garsfield Rectory,” agreed his lordship, puzzled but trusting.
She gave him a little shake. “To Hugh, Dolphl You know he is the Rector! He can marry you to Hannah, and then you will be safe, and Hannah will not permit your Mama to tease you ever again! And your Mama will not question the propriety of your taking a valise with you, because she will expect us to remain at Arnside for the night! It is the most famous scheme, and the best of it is that Freddy need have nothing to do with it! It will be all my fault, and no one will be able to blame him in the least degree!”
It took time and patience to instil his role into Lord Dolphinton’s slow mind, but once he had thoroughly grasped the ramifications of the plot he became so enthusiastic that he was with difficulty dissuaded from accompanying Kitty upon a visit to Keppel Street. She thought it wiser that he should not go with her, however, having little dependence on his discretion, and a lively apprehension that his presence would set Hannah’s sharp- eyed sister-in-law very much upon her guard. Having assured herself that he did indeed understand what he was expected to do, and promised to send him word if some accident should prevent Miss Plymstock from playing her part in the affair, she saw him off the premises, and at once sped forth to Keppel Street.
She had the good fortune to find Miss Plymstock alone, and had no difficulty in making her understand what was purposed for her benefit. Miss Plymstock heard her in calm, attentive silence, shook hands with her in a very painful way, and said gruffly: “Don’t know how to thank you, but I daresay you can guess what I should wish to say to you, Miss Charing. You may depend upon me! If her ladyship has taken to frightening Foster again, there ain’t a moment to be lost. I won’t have her driving him out of his wits, that’s certain! You don’t need to tease yourself, wondering what will happen when I’ve married him: I’ll take care of that! Only let me get his ring on my finger, and I shall know how to do! I ain’t afraid of her ladyship, nor of anyone, and I
